Washington County water plume could be Superfund site, again

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the location.

An area that includes parts of Afton, Lakeland and Lakeland Shores should be put on the state's list of Superfund sites for the second time, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The agency on Wednesday proposed adding the site and eight others to the list.

Water in that area of Washington County is contaminated with traces of volatile organic compounds, which can include chemical degreasing agents.

Until recently the problem was largely considered solved. After the chemicals were discovered in the 1980s, local wells were sealed and a new water system was set up. The area was taken off the state's list of Superfund sites in 2000.

But the state Department of Health changed the guidelines. The department slashed the allowable level of the chemicals to 0.4 parts per billion, less than one-tenth the previous allowable level. Under the new guidelines, several residential wells in the area now have water that is considered polluted.

The agency is proposing to re-list the area as a Superfund site to make funding available to address the newly defined problem.

The other sites proposed for the list are in or near Minneapolis, Willmar, Virginia, Ely, Rochester, Dundas, Bemidji and Isle.